Golf Ball-Sized Pearl Cultured in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand — A pearl the size of a slightly squashed golf ball has been cultured in the Gulf of Thailand, a pearl company executive said Saturday.

The pearl, technically described as “off-round,” measures 1.5 inches by 1.3 inches and weighs 1.09 ounces, said Keiko Hiranprueck, chairwoman of the Naga Pearl Co. Ltd., which cultured the pearl on the company’s farm off Samui Island.

“You can’t put a price on something as unique as this,” she said.

Frank Mastoloni, a pearl dealer in New York, said the Thai pearl is probably one of the largest in the world. Checks with several dealers in the United States and Japan indicated that no official records are kept on cultured pearls.